Regulator valve



July 4, 1950 H. B. SCHULTZ 2,513,681

REGULATOR VALVE Filed Feb. 28, 1946 545 22 IMfH 2 WWW /7 [N V EN TOR.

Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I REGULATOR-VALVE. Harold B. Schultz South Bend; 1nd; assl gnor to Bendix. Aviation Corporation, South Bend, ;Ind., a corporation of Delaware 1 I Application February;28, 1946,.Serial N or. 650,372

fiClaims. (c1. rev-453) This invention. relates: generally to I valves-1 of a class to be: used in. fluid pressure. systems, and. more particularly to improvements. on regulator valves. of the type-disclosed in my Patent. No. 2,404,102, patented July 16, 1946and; Patent No. 2,393,571, patented January 22, 1946..

The valve. of the. inventiondifiers from the aforementioned valves in many'respects which willbecome obvious from reading the. specifica tion.

Itis a primary objectof the invention to providea regulator valve which. is operated. by ac.- cumulatorpressure .without diminishingthe. pressure. in.- the accumulator.

.It isa further object. of theinventionto provide a regulator. valve having acycle of operation which is startedibypressure in. the inlet port and completed. by. accumulator. pressure which rises-to a: predetermined. highvalue and. then falls to a. predetermined low value.

Animportantcbject of the. invention is toprovide aregulator valve which. canbereadily. converted from one range to. another withoutremoving. the regulator valvefromthe system..

The. above.- andv other objects and features, of

the invention. will beapparent from. the following; description.- of the. device taken in. connection with the accompanying drawing which. forms a part ofthis specification,.andiuwhichthe single figure illustrates. a. hydraulic. system into. which the regulator valve of the invention...has.been. incorporated.

Referring to the. drawing, the. fluid. pressure system shown comprises a. regulator or. unloading valve. l0. which responds. to thepressure. in. an accumulator. l2. to. control the. byepassing. oifluid from pump. I 4. to .areservoir I 6..

Theregulator valve l 0 comprises a body, l8.having. an inlet port. 2 0, outlet. port..22-.and .accmnulator port 24.connectedrespectively to the pump l'4,.r.eser.voir lfi'and accumulator. |2..thr0ugh.con dui'ts 26, 28 and 30. Thepump Mrec-eives fluid iromthe reservoir. I'Bthrough pipe..32'.

A .check.valve..34.is disposedin abore 36' which communicates. the inlet port 211 with the accumulator port 24'. A valve seat..3.8..is .f0rmed.in the bore adjacentthe inletporh. Thecheck valve His-normally urged against thevalve seat. 38 by .asprin which has its free-endengaging the check valve audits. other end carriedbya spring retainer. member. 42.. having. an opening 43.. therethrough- The. spring retainer member 42 isheld against .a. ring=like element. which is securely retainedin.arecesssdiof the bore. The

check va1ve.34-hasaplurality of grooves such 65 A plunger 50 is located in.a bore 52 of the body" I8... The bore 52.is coaxially related to: the" outlet-port 22with whichthe bore is joined. The inlet port 20' is bored at 54' to connect thebore" 52' with the inlet port. The bore 52 is reduced at 56. where the bore and outlet port join to pro; vide a stop which engages a valve seat 60 ar ranged to cooperate with one end of theplunger 50 to cut ofi" communicationbetween the inlet: and outletports. The end or the bore 52, op posite from whereth'e bore joins the outlet. is" counterb'ored at B2 to receive a sealing assembly 64' which closes that endoffthe bore to atmosphere. The" assembl'y'M" is comprised" of two plugs-'66 havingremoved portions 68 in their peripheries for receiving seals 10, and a rin'glike element "12 having an annulus "M which registers with passagesTB and I8. The' assembly is held in: the" counterbore 62- bya retainer ring am which is rietained' in a recess 82 of'the counterbore. The arrangement" of the" sealing assemb1y is such as to prevent" any" axial move ment: thereof inthea'counterbore'. One. endi'iof the assembly-iseagainst shoulder B land theothen end is engaged -by-th-e-retainer. ring 80. A relatively light spring 8 6"has-.on.e*of its ends abutting the inner'p-lug" 66 an'd'ithe other end abutting the plunger- 50*. to thereby urge: the same 4 against the' valve seatififiz'to normallycutofi communication betweeni the: inietend" returnports.

At; times plunger 50 Y is f heldvagainst valve seat 60 bythezspringrflEandthe inlet or pump pres sure acti'ngin bore fl orr. onefendiof plunger 50 opposite from: the-valve: seat. When the plungerison itsxseatthe inlet? or pinup-pressure alsoactson: the. other: end of the plunger tending" to: un

seat. same: The efiective' areaof said other end of. the plungeron-whieh the inlet pressure-acts tending; tounseat the plunger being that. area of? the-aplunger: created bythe difierence in ameters of the valverseatmll. andrthe-bore=-52-: The effective-area of the. plunger exposedto-in let. or. pump: pressure. urging the: plunger towardits: seat: isgreater... than .the effective area. of .the plunger exposed. to. =..pump pressure urging-the plungerraway. from its seat.

For. controlling. the. movement. of the plunger fillrahco-ntrohvalveaa is.pro.vided.. The-valve body I. 8. is stepped. bored at i. 90,. 92. and 9.4. to. receive the. control valve 8B comprising, valve guides. 9.6 and. 98... .The'guide .flli-ihas an..enlarged end, I 01! passage of fluid therebetween. Also the depth of the counterbore I I is greater than the length of the small end II2 to allow fluid to act on one The end of theplug. I08. which screws into the stepped bore is reduced-at H4 and engages the enlarged end I04 of the guide A end thereof.

98 to securely hold the guides 96 and 98 in place.

The reduced end I I4 of the plugisdrilled radially' at IIB to communicate the small end IIZyof the valve guide with the accumulator port 24 through passages H6, 18, 14 and 16. The guide 98 is drilled axially at H8 and co unterbored at' 120. coy axially therewith to receive a push pin I22- which slidably fits into the drilled.portionfI'I8.

The pin I22 has a ring I24 secured to. one; of its ends. The ring I24 is arranged on the p'infl22 to slide into the counterbore I t limit the movement of the pin to the right. The pushpinis lapped into the drilled. portion I I8. The enlargedend l04 of the guide 98 is reduced in diameter at I25 and drilled radially at I28. A drilled passage I connects the bore 52in back of plunger 50 to the stepped bore 84 at the enlarged ends of guides 96 and 98. The guide 9 5 is drilled. axially at I32 to receivea lapped flt piston valve I34, and is drilled radially at I36, I3 8 and I40. The enlarged'end I000! guide 95 is counterbored at I42 cc-axially with the bore 132. The two counterbores I20and I42form a chamber into which one of the ends of push pin-I22 and one of the ends of the piston valve l34-terminate in abutting relationship. Alongitudinally drilled'passage I44 connects the radial passage I38 to the chamber formed-by the two counterbores aforementioned. Passage I 46 conmeets the radial passage I40 to the bore 52 at a point in the here on the opposite end from where the passage I30 connects the bore 52: The passages I30 and I46 form part of :a conduit which connects opposite ends of plunger 50. The valve guides 98 and 98 are provided with seals I48 and Isolto prevent leakage to atmosphere. The piston'valve I 34 has a reduced portion I52 inter mediate its'ends which allows fluid to pass between the passages I36, I38 and I40. The reduced portion of the piston connects'passage 38 to passage I40 when the piston valve'is-in the position shown and connects passage I to I38 when the piston valve is shifted to the left a predetermined distance. The constructionand'arrangement of the piston valve is such that when passage I36 is lapped or covered- (as shown in the figure) passage I is uncovered to communicate the back side or one end of plunger with the inlet port. Also when passage I40 is covered passage I 36 is uncovered to communicate the back side or said one end of plunger 50 with a bore I54 co-axially arranged with respect-to the stepped bore. A passage I56 connects the bore I54 to the outlet port 22. Valve guide 96 has a reduced end portion I58 projecting into the bore I54, Seal I48 prevents the passage of fluid under pressure from the stepped bore to bore I54. The end ofthe piston valve, opposite from the one end of the piston valve abutting the push pin, pro- 4 trudes beyond the reduced portion I58 where it abuts a spring retainer member I60.

The pressure range of the accumulator may be varied by changing the relationship of the diameters of the push pin i222 and the piston valve I34. As shown in the drawing, the diameter of the push pin I22 is greater than the diameter of the pis'tohvalve134. To increase the pressure range of the regulator valve increase the diameter ,oipush pin I22 and to decrease the pressure range decrease the diameter of push pin I22.

To permit varying the high and low limit of the ,regulator ,valve an adjusting mechanism is provided, The adjusting mechanism is housed in the bore I54 andcomprises two cup-like members I62 and 04, the former of which has a flange I66 drilled at I08 to receive fastening elements I10 for holding the member I62 securely in place. The

bore I54 is slightly enlarged at I12 to form a shoulder I'M to engage the flange I to locate the member I02 axially in the bore. The enlarged part I12 of the bore is recessed at I18 to receive a. retainer ring 180 for holdingthe member H52 against the shoulder I14. The bottom of the cup I02 is drilled and threaded to accommodate a screw I02, one end of which abuts the bottom of the cup I64. The two cup-like members being telescopically disposed relative to each other. Cup-like member I64 has a flange I88 with a groove I90 therein for receiving a seal I92 to prevent the escape of fluid past the flange I88 to atmosphere. A spring I94 has one end abutting the flange I88 and the other end abutting the spring retainer member I60 to thereby normally urge the piston valve to the right, covering passage I30 and uncovering passage I 40.

Operation of the regulator valve is as follows: With no pressure on the system the check valve 34, plunger 50 and control valve 88 will be in the position shown. That is, the check valve will be urged to closed position by the spring 40, the plunger 50 will be urged to cut oii communi cation between the inlet and return ports by the spring and the piston valve I34, of the control valve, will be urged to the right by the spring I94 to connect one end or the plunger 50 to the inlet port through thepassages I46, I40, I38, I44, I28 and I30.

When the pump is started the fluid in the system will be put under pressure. The system pressure will be governed by the regulator valve setting. By means of the adjustment screw I82 the regulator valve may be set to by-pass fluid under pressure from the inlet or pumping port to the return port when the pressure in the accumulator has reached a preselected value. It should be noted that when the pump is pumping fluid to the accumulator with the piston valve in the position shown and with plunger 50 on the valve seat 00 and passage I40 uncovered, the pressure at the. inlet 20 and in bore 52 behind the plunger are substantially the same as the accumulator pressure. Therefore, at this time the pressures acting on the ends of push pin I22 are substantially equal. The push pin is balance under these conditions.

When the pressure of the fluid acting on the right end of the piston valve reaches a predetermined value, depending on the setting of the ad'- justment I82, the piston valve will be moved to the left against spring I94. This movement causes the piston to cover passage I40 to cutoif the right end of plunger 50 and the left end of the push pin from the inlet port. Hence a. fur'-' I5 ther building-up of inlet pressure on these parts is prevented. :However, pressure continues: tobuildup in the accumulator and-on the :right end of the push pin until a predeterminedlpressurez is reached, at which time the I push pin moves againstthe' piston valve to thereby-move the same to theleft to uncover passage-I H m-communicate the'left end of thepush pin and the right end of the plunger with the return port through passages I36 and I56. 'This movement of the piston valve causes the release-of pressure actingon the right end of the plunger sothattheinlet pres-' sureacting on the left end of the plunger will urge the s'ame-to the right against-the-springtfii tofco'mmunicate the return port with the inlet port to thereby bypass the fluid: to-t'hereturn' port; Thelast mentioned piston-valve'movement' also causes the simultaneousrelease ofipressure acting on the left end ofthe-push pin soas to" create a differential in pressure-across the ends of the pin, with: the predominating accumulator pressure acting on the right'cndofthe-pin tend ing to move it to the left againstthe piston valve which is normally urged to the right. by the spring- I94.

As soon-as the accumulator pressure, acting on the-right end of the push pin I22; has decreased to a predetermined low value the spring I94.will urge the piston valve 134 and the push pin 122 to the right to cover passage I36=anduncover passage tll. Fluid under-pressure is now free to flow frornthe inlet'tothe right end-of the plunger through the passages I46, M0, B8, I44, I28 and I30. This permits pressureto build up on the right end of the plunger to iorcethesame toward the valve seat 6G; The'cycle now-begins anew.

While I have shown and described a single construction in which the invention may. be" ad'- vantageously embodied, it is to be understood that the construction shown has been selected merely for the purpose of illustration or'exa-mple, and that various changesin the size, shape, and'arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from thespir-it of the-invention or the scope of the-subjoined claims;

I claim:

1; A regulator valve comprising a body having inlet, return and. accumulator. ports, .means establishing a communication between the inlet and accumulator.- ports, a passageway interconnecting the inlet and return ports, valve means in the passageway normally urged toward closed position, said valve means having one end subjected to pressure at the inlet port. at all timestending to. move thevalve means to. open positionand' the other end subjected to pressure at-"the inlet port part of the time tending to move the valve means to closed position, a first passage connecting said one end of the valve means to the other end thereof, means for controlling the pressure acting on the other end of the valve means comprising a piston valve constructed and arranged to open and close the first passage, spring means acting on one end of said piston valve to move the same in a direction to open the first passage, said piston valve having its other end subjected to pressure at the inlet port to move the piston valve in a direction to close the first passage, a movable member constructed and arranged to have one end thereof positioned for engagement with said other end of the piston valve to move the same and the other end of said member subjected to pressure at the accumulator port, said member being urged in a direction engaging the piston valve by the pressure at the accumulator port and urged in the opposite direction by pressure at the inlet 1 port, and a. second passage connectingsaidi other end of the valve means to the, return-port andnormallyclosed. by said piston valve when the,- first passage isopen, said piston valve being first moved in azdirection to close thezfirst passage in response to a. preselected pressure at the inlet port: and then moved further inthe' same. direction to open: the second passage in response to. predetermined pressure in the accumulator-port. actingonsaid other endof the member to connect: the said other end of. the valve means. to: return port, whereby the pressure. at the inlet port. acting on said. one end ofthe valve-means will move'the same to open position to connect the inlet'portztozthe return port.

2; A regulator valve comprising a body having. inlet, return and accumulatorponts, means establishingcommunication. between the I inletand .accumulator ports; a passageway interconnecting the inlet and returnpor-ts, valve means in. the? passageway normally urgedtowards closed-poshtion; said valveqineans having one-end subjected to pressure atthe inlet port at all times tending to. move'the, valve to open positioniand theother end subjected to, pressure at the inlet port part ofi'the. timetending to move the valve to closed position, a firstpassage connectin said one end of" the valve-means to the other endthereof, a sec" ond passage connecting said other end of the valve means to the return port, means for-controlling thepressure acting on the other end of the-valve means comprising a piston valve constructed and arrangedto open and close the first andsecond passages, aspring acting'on one end of the piston a valve; urging thesame in one-direction to open the: first passag and close the second passage, the. other end-of the piston valve being subjected toa preselected pressure at the inlet port urging the piston valve'in'theopposite-direction to close the first passage, to isolate said other end of the valve means from the pressure at the inlet port, and a push pin constructed and arranged to have one of its ends abutting said other end of thepistonvalve, and; its other end subj ectedto pressure at theraccumulator port to cause the piston valve to; mcveyfurther in said opposite direction when the accumulator pressure reaches a predetermined value to open the second passage to conneotthe-other of said valve means to return port so astocreate a pressure differential across said valve means to move the same to open position,

3; Agregulator. valve comprising a body having inlet,-. return and accumulator ports, means. establishingcommunication between, the: inlet and accumulator ports, a passageway interconnecting the inlet and return ports, valve means in the passageway normally urged towards closed position, said valve means having one end subjected to pressure at the inlet port at all times tending to move the valve to open position and the other end subjected to pressure at the inlet port part of the time tending to move the valve to closed position, a first passage connectin said one end of the valve means to the other end thereof, a second passage connecting said other end of the valve means to the return port, means for controlling the pressure acting on the other end of the valve means comprising a piston valve constructed and arranged to open and close the first and second passages, adjustable spring means acting on one end of the piston valve urging the same in one direction to open the first passage and close the second passage, the other end of the piston valve being subjected to pressure at the inlet port urging the same in the opposite direction to close the first passage to divorce said other end of the valve means from the pressure at the inlet port, said adjustable spring means being capable of adjustment for varying the pressure from the inlet that is required to move the piston valve to close the first passage, and a push pin constructed and arranged to have one of its ends abutting said other end of the piston valve and its other end subjected to pressure at the accumulator port to cause the piston valve to move further in said opposite direction when the accumulator pressure reaches a predetermined value to open the second passage to connect the other end of said valve means to return port so as to create a pressure differential across said valve means to move the same to open position.

4. A regulator valve comprising a body having inlet, return and accumulator ports, means establishing communication between the inlet and accumulator ports, a passageway interconnecting the inlet and return ports, a valve seat in said passageway, a plunger constructed and arranged to be normally seated on said valve seat, said plunger having one end subjected to pressure at the inlet port at all times tending to unseat said plunger and its other end subjected to pressure at the inlet port part of the time tending to seat the plunger, a first passage connecting said one end of the plunger to said other end thereof, a second passage connecting said other end of the plunger to the return port, means normally opening the first passage and closing the second passage and responsive to pres sure at the inlet port above a preselected value to close the first passage toisolate the other end of said plunger from the pressure at the inlet port, and means responsive to pressure at the accumulator port above a predetermined value for moving the first mentioned means to open the second passage to connect the other end of said plunger to return port to create a pressure differential on said plunger to unseat the same.-

5. A regulator value comprising a body having inlet, return and accumulator ports, means establishing communication between the inlet and accumulator ports, a passageway interconnecting the inlet and return ports, a valve seat in said passageway, a plunger constructed and arranged to be normally urged toward said valve seat tending to close communication between the inlet and said other end of the plunger to the return port,

I a piston valve constructed and arranged to normally open the first passage and close the second passage, a spring acting on one end of said piston valve urging the same in a direction normally opening the first passage, said piston valve having its other end subjected to a preselected pressure at the inlet port for urging the piston valve in the opposite direction closing the first passage to isolate the other end of said plunger from pressure at'the inlet port, and means responsive to pressure at the accumulator port above a predetermined value for moving the plston valve to open the second passage to connect the other end of said plunger to return port to create a pressure differential on said plunger to unseat the same.

6'. A regulator valve comprising a body having inlet, return and accumulator ports, means establishing communication between the inlet and accumulator ports, a'passageway connecting the inlet and return ports, a valve seat in said passageway, a plunger constructed and arranged to be normally seated on said valve seat, said plunger having one end subjected to pressure at the inlet port at all times tending to unseat said plunger and the other end subjected to pressure at the inlet port part of the time tending to seat the plunger, 2. first passage connecting said one end of the plunger to the other end thereof, a second passage connecting said other end of the plunger to the return port, means opening the first passage and closing the second passage and responsive to inlet and accumulator port pressures for controlling said first and second passages, said means responsive to pressure in the inletport above a preselected value for closing the first passage to isolate the other end of said plunger from the inlet port pressure, and responsive to pressure at the accumulator port above a predetermined value for opening the second passage to connect the other end of said plunger to return port.

HAROLD B. SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 687,273 Schoeffel Nov. 26, 1901 2,420,890 MacDufi May 20, 194'! 

